And the Rollercoaster goes on....

Once Upon a Time ( Mon, 30 Jun 2003 at 02:13:36 actually ) in
alt.books.m-lackey, mct.RemoveThis@no.more.spam.cs.berkeley.edu sharpened a new
quill and wrote ...
 >Ray Almond scribbled:
  >> The latest efforts of the RL rollercoaster are that one of our two
  >> remaining cats appears to have vanished. Neither of us can remember
  >> seeing Minim anytime after Thursday evening (and it's now Sunday
  >> evening). We've driven round both the housing estates just behind
  >> us to check for lumps in gutters but found nothing - we're just
  >> hoping that she's merely holed up somewhere cool and will reappear
  >> tomorrow.
 >
 >Oh, dear...
 >
 ><crosses fingers for Minim>

Crossed fingers here too.

 >
 >Um, does anyone know how to tell if a cat has been abandoned?
 >There's a cat that really likes my porch. It was fat-ish...
 >I think... when I moved in a month or so ago. I thought
 >it belonged to a neighbor. It's thin now. Dieting in the
 >heat?
 >

Book it in to the local vets to be tested for a microchip.

I had occasion to take mine to the vets recently ( he's getting old )
and saw a cat reunited with it's owner eight months after wandering off.

The person who had "adopted" the cat took it in for it's jabs and the
vet scanned it.

 >Megan
 >Pointkeeper o' the Moment
<font color=purple> >Keeper of the FAQ: <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~mct/abml/</font" target="_blank">http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~mct/abml/</font</a>>
 >Acolyte to the God of Grilled-SPAM

--

I quaff my ale and fight dirty!
Beldin Disciple of Aldur
Part time Disciple of the God of Grilled-SPAM
Member of the Guild of Free Pedants

( Barry Ruck. Harlow, Essex. )<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: And the Rollercoaster goes on.... 

Beldin Disciple of Aldur scribbled:
 > Once Upon a Time ( Mon, 30 Jun 2003 at 02:13:36 actually ) in
 > alt.books.m-lackey, mct DeleteThis @no.more.spam.cs.berkeley.edu sharpened a new
 > quill and wrote ...
<snip>
  >>Um, does anyone know how to tell if a cat has been abandoned?
  >>There's a cat that really likes my porch. It was fat-ish...
  >>I think... when I moved in a month or so ago. I thought
  >>it belonged to a neighbor. It's thin now. Dieting in the
  >>heat?

 > Book it in to the local vets to be tested for a microchip.

Ummmmmmm... that would be challenging. I start doing the
allergy reaction thing after about 30 seconds of handling
a cat. Getting an unwilling animal into a carry box? That'll
take multiple minutes - by that time, I won't be in a fit
state to drive. (Must see to drive, and watering eyes
will create difficulties.)

I was trying to figure out how to manage it last night.

That assumes I can even lay hands on the critter. It scats
out of reach whenever I get within two feet.

I checked first thing this morning, and it wasn't on the
porch, so it does seem to have somewhere else to sleep at
night. Maybe it does have a home... and just chooses to spend
all day, most days, at my apartment.

Quiet at my apartment, I guess.

 > I had occasion to take mine to the vets recently ( he's getting old )
 > and saw a cat reunited with it's owner eight months after wandering off.

 > The person who had "adopted" the cat took it in for it's jabs and the
 > vet scanned it.

EIGHT MONTHS! Wow. The vet must enjoy days like that.

Megan
Pointkeeper o' the Moment
Keeper of the FAQ: <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~mct/abml/" target="_blank">http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~mct/abml/</a>
Acolyte to the God of Grilled-SPAM<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: And the Rollercoaster goes on.... 

mct RemoveThis @no.more.spam.cs.berkeley.edu laid claim to the following perspective:
 >
 > Ummmmmmm... that would be challenging. I start doing the
 > allergy reaction thing after about 30 seconds of handling
 > a cat. Getting an unwilling animal into a carry box? That'll
 > take multiple minutes

Might I suggest a big roomy box with towel and a bowl of canned cat
food. Should work no problem to get them in and then it's a matter of
closing the box (I would suggest a file folder box that string ties
shut) and having a friend put cat+box in car with windows open. Then
poof to vet and back. Once cat is out of car then its' a trip to the
car wash to prevent any left over fur from causing problems in rush
hour traffic jams.

I am not allergic but I have known people who are.
Also please note, it is of course a given that small holes be put in
box before trick is tried to give air yet prevent escape.

 > - by that time, I won't be in a fit
 > state to drive. (Must see to drive, and watering eyes
 > will create difficulties.)
 > I was trying to figure out how to manage it last night.

Hope this helps.

 > That assumes I can even lay hands on the critter. It scats
 > out of reach whenever I get within two feet.

Perhaps getting to the closing of the box may be a bit difficult. I'm
sure, since you know your porch layout, you could devise a great plan.

 > I checked first thing this morning, and it wasn't on the
 > porch, so it does seem to have somewhere else to sleep at
 > night. Maybe it does have a home... and just chooses to spend
 > all day, most days, at my apartment.

That is a possiblity but if it's lost a lot of wieght quickly it may
need your help.

Mari

--
"A kiss that has no ropes, no strings no obligations,
I don't own you, be quite sure, you don't own me."
-- The Tear Garden 'In Search of My Rose'<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: And the Rollercoaster goes on.... 

In a land and time much like our own, Quasipsyco
<Quasipsyco@yahoo-.-com> awoke and said:


 >Might I suggest a big roomy box with towel and a bowl of canned cat
 >food. Should work no problem to get them in and then it's a matter of
 >closing the box (I would suggest a file folder box that string ties
 >shut) and having a friend put cat+box in car with windows open. Then
 >poof to vet and back. Once cat is out of car then its' a trip to the
 >car wash to prevent any left over fur from causing problems in rush
 >hour traffic jams.
 >
 >I am not allergic but I have known people who are.
 >Also please note, it is of course a given that small holes be put in
 >box before trick is tried to give air yet prevent escape.
 >



May not work.

SFSPCA provided nice cardboard carrier when Jesse got our 2 older
cats from them.

Bella had clawed her way to freedom before he hit the highway,
and she spent the rest of the trip exploring the car or laying on
his lap.



******************************************************************************************************************************************
Kat
Beloved of Jesse
High Priestess of Kink
Cloudkeeper in Training

"The next time you think you have an excuse why God can't use you, consider the following:
Noah was a drunkard, Abraham was too old, Isaac was a daydreamer, Jacob was a liar,
Leah was ugly, Joseph was abused, Moses was a murderer, Gideon was afraid, Samson had
long hair, Rahab was a prostitute, Timothy was too young, David had an illicit affair,
Elijah was suicidal, Isaiah preached naked, Job was bankrupt, John the Baptist ran around
in a loin cloth, Peter was hot-tempered, John was self-righteous.

The disciples fell asleep while praying, Martha fretted about everything, Mary Magadalene
was demon-possessed, the boy with the fish and five rolls of bread was too obscure,
the Samaritan woman was divorced more than once, Zacchaeus was too small, Paul was too religious,
and Lazarus was dead.

No more excuses!"
--Author unknown<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: And the Rollercoaster goes on.... 

Quasipsyco scribbled:
 > mct.DeleteThis@no.more.spam.cs.berkeley.edu laid claim to the following perspective:
  >>
  >> Ummmmmmm... that would be challenging. I start doing the
  >> allergy reaction thing after about 30 seconds of handling
  >> a cat. Getting an unwilling animal into a carry box? That'll
  >> take multiple minutes

 > Might I suggest a big roomy box with towel and a bowl of canned cat
 > food. Should work no problem to get them in and then it's a matter of
 > closing the box (I would suggest a file folder box that string ties
 > shut) and having a friend put cat+box in car with windows open. Then
 > poof to vet and back. Once cat is out of car then its' a trip to the
 > car wash to prevent any left over fur from causing problems in rush
 > hour traffic jams.

Hmmmm. I will keep that as my backup plan; since I recently
moved I do have a number of file boxes around. Carrying the
box will be interesting, since the "handles" are holes in the
side, and I gotta figure my fingers will be great claw targets.

Gardening gloves, perhaps.

<snip>
 > Hope this helps.

It does.

  >> That assumes I can even lay hands on the critter. It scats
  >> out of reach whenever I get within two feet.

 > Perhaps getting to the closing of the box may be a bit difficult. I'm
 > sure, since you know your porch layout, you could devise a great plan.

Yeah. Find the owner!

  >> I checked first thing this morning, and it wasn't on the
  >> porch, so it does seem to have somewhere else to sleep at
  >> night. Maybe it does have a home... and just chooses to spend
  >> all day, most days, at my apartment.

 > That is a possiblity but if it's lost a lot of wieght quickly it may
 > need your help.

Except... it occurred to me this morning that we've had
a recent high heat wave. Perhaps the perceived difference
in girth between when I first saw the cat, a couple months
ago, and now, is lost fur. Do cats shed fur for the summer?

If the cat did belong to the prior occupant of my apartment
it should have starved to death before I moved in, since
they took a few weeks to clean, paint, etc, between tenants.
So I think it does belong to someone in the complex. Somewhere.

I may knock on a few doors this week and ask.

Megan
Pointkeeper o' the Moment
Keeper of the FAQ: <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~mct/abml/" target="_blank">http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~mct/abml/</a>
Acolyte to the God of Grilled-SPAM<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: And the Rollercoaster goes on.... 

In a land and time much like our own,
mct DeleteThis @no.more.spam.cs.berkeley.edu awoke and said:


 >Except... it occurred to me this morning that we've had
 >a recent high heat wave. Perhaps the perceived difference
 >in girth between when I first saw the cat, a couple months
 >ago, and now, is lost fur. Do cats shed fur for the summer?
 >
 >

Or, it may be due to a more NATURAL cause. I doubt you've
gotten close enough to detect its gender.


******************************************************************************************************************************************
Kat
Beloved of Jesse
High Priestess of Kink
Cloudkeeper in Training

"The next time you think you have an excuse why God can't use you, consider the following:
Noah was a drunkard, Abraham was too old, Isaac was a daydreamer, Jacob was a liar,
Leah was ugly, Joseph was abused, Moses was a murderer, Gideon was afraid, Samson had
long hair, Rahab was a prostitute, Timothy was too young, David had an illicit affair,
Elijah was suicidal, Isaiah preached naked, Job was bankrupt, John the Baptist ran around
in a loin cloth, Peter was hot-tempered, John was self-righteous.

The disciples fell asleep while praying, Martha fretted about everything, Mary Magadalene
was demon-possessed, the boy with the fish and five rolls of bread was too obscure,
the Samaritan woman was divorced more than once, Zacchaeus was too small, Paul was too religious,
and Lazarus was dead.

No more excuses!"
--Author unknown<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: And the Rollercoaster goes on.... 

Kat laid claim to the following perspective:
>
> Or, it may be due to a more NATURAL cause. I doubt you've
> gotten close enough to detect its gender.

I had not overlooked that option. That's normally spotted by the tummy
skin hanging lose and flappy-like.
I just figured I would advise as the situation provided.

If that's the case, I would put out dry food and water somewhere out
of the way so that she could keep her health, but only for 6 weeks,
given the allergy part.

Mari

--
"A kiss that has no ropes, no strings no obligations,
I don't own you, be quite sure, you don't own me."
-- The Tear Garden 'In Search of My Rose'
 >> Stay informed about: And the Rollercoaster goes on.... 

Kat laid claim to the following perspective:
 >
 > May not work.
 >
 > SFSPCA provided nice cardboard carrier when Jesse got our 2 older
 > cats from them.
 >
 > Bella had clawed her way to freedom before he hit the highway,
 > and she spent the rest of the trip exploring the car or laying on
 > his lap.

Ah, well. I would figure that if such would be the case one would have
a chance to learn the determination of the cat before going far. If
she/he/it shows signs of making a successful escape from it's travel
container then I say 'Peace cat! Have fun and see you around'. I only
go so far into forcing an animal to do what it finds unpleasant.
My last cat had a set of lungs that came from his siamese mother and
an absolute hatred of leaving the house much less car rides. he
wouldn't fight, he would cry. He had more ability with his voice than
puppies with thier eyes.

Mari

--
"A kiss that has no ropes, no strings no obligations,
I don't own you, be quite sure, you don't own me."
-- The Tear Garden 'In Search of My Rose'<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: And the Rollercoaster goes on.... 

mct DeleteThis @no.more.spam.cs.berkeley.edu laid claim to the following perspective:
 >
 > Hmmmm. I will keep that as my backup plan; since I recently
 > moved I do have a number of file boxes around. Carrying the
 > box will be interesting, since the "handles" are holes in the
 > side, and I gotta figure my fingers will be great claw targets.
 >
 > Gardening gloves, perhaps.

Definately.
And a friend, don't do this alone if your allergies are bad to severe.

 ><snip>
  >> Hope this helps.
 >
 > It does.



 > Yeah. Find the owner!

LOL, pull that off and save yourself the whole trip!

  >> That is a possiblity but if it's lost a lot of wieght quickly it may
  >> need your help.
 >
 > Except... it occurred to me this morning that we've had
 > a recent high heat wave. Perhaps the perceived difference
 > in girth between when I first saw the cat, a couple months
 > ago, and now, is lost fur. Do cats shed fur for the summer?

They do, but it's easy to tell fluff loss versus bones showing. They
don't lose much fur in the face area.

 > If the cat did belong to the prior occupant of my apartment
 > it should have starved to death before I moved in, since
 > they took a few weeks to clean, paint, etc, between tenants.

Cats are resourceful and will eat many things that don't bare
listing. Also they will travel a pretty good distance scavaging.

 > So I think it does belong to someone in the complex. Somewhere.

Hope for the best, prepare for the worse and all that.

 > I may knock on a few doors this week and ask.


That's a great plan too!
Perhaps someone else will be able to take the kitty in or may have a
better chance of getting the cat to a vet for scanning.

Mari

--
"A kiss that has no ropes, no strings no obligations,
I don't own you, be quite sure, you don't own me."
-- The Tear Garden 'In Search of My Rose'<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: And the Rollercoaster goes on....